Grain-riddle.



PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

E. A. J.ONES. GRAIN RIDDLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV'.16, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

A .m :f,

UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GRAIN-RIDDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 759,378, dated May 10, 1904.

' Application filed November 16, 1903. Serial No. 181,423. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARN s'rA. JONES, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Sunset, in the county of Whitman and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Grain- Riddle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to grain riddles or screens for threshing-machines; and it has for its object to provide a riddle, screen, or sieve which may be usefully employed either as a chaifer or as a tailings-screen.

Another object of my invention is to so construct the device that while it serves to hold up the straw and chaff that is blown over it by the blast from the fan of the machine in connection with which it is used it shall afford no surface upon which a single grain may rest or be supported, so as to be liable to be blown over the screen, the latter being also adapted to serve as a feeder when so mounted as to have a reciprocatorymovement.

With these and other ends in view my invention consists in the improved construction of the sieve or'riddle, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a grain-riddle constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional detail View taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a diagonal sectional detail View taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view.

Corresponding partsin the several figures are indicated by similarnumerals of reference.

My improved grain-riddle is manufactured from a sheet of metal 1 of suitable dimensions, from which a plurality of semi elliptical tongues 2 are struck up. These tongues are arranged in transverse rows, all the tongues in each row being in alinement with each other. The tongues in alternate rows, however, are set slightly staggering with relation to each other-that is, the tongues in the first, third, fifth rows, &c., are disposed in longitudinal alinement with each other, while the tongues in the second, fourth, sixth rows, &c., are likewise set in longitudinal alinement with each other and slightly to one side of the tongues in the alternate rows. The tongues therefore are not disposed in single rows, but rather in very slightly zigzag lines extending from the front rearwardly, the object being to intercept every grain without interposing any direct obstruction to the passage of the mass of material passing over the screen. It will be seen that the longitudinal rows of perforations are so slightly zigzag that there is a narrow but straight clearance from end to end of the screen. By reason of this short zigzag the beveled edges of the tongues act upon the rounded or pointed ends of the grains to deflect them laterally upon the inclined surfaces surrounding the perforations, where gravity will aid agitation in causing the escape of the grain through theperforations. It is also especially to be noted that the mass of straw and grain is by the tongues supported and elevated above the plane of the screen, so that the forward movement and lateral agitation to which it is subjected will be highly effective in separating the grain from the straw and coarse particles.

The striking up of the tongues 2 from the sheet 1 may be performed by special machincry, or it may on a smaller scale be performed by means of a simple chisel suitably constructed for the purpose and having a semi-elliptical cutting edge. When a chisel is used for striking up the tongues, the sheet of metal is placed upon a yielding surface, such as a block of wood, which will cause the metal to become creased or bent downwardly by the action of the tool while cutting through it. It will thus be observed that not only are the edges 4 of the tongues 2 bent downwardly all around, but the adjacent edges of the metal sheet are likewise bent downwardly, as shown at 5. This is the case not only with the comparatively narrow strips 6, which are left between the individual tongues, but also with the interspaces 7 left between any four tongues of two proximate rows, said interspaces, as shown in Fig. 4, having distinct apices 8, from which they may be described as curvingdownwardly in all directions in the direction of the spaces from which the tongues are struck up, said spaces being obviously cleared by bending or raising the tongues upwardly to a rearwardly inclosedposition.

The screen or riddle thus comprises a sheet having struck-up tongues disposed longitudinally zigzag With relation to each other and in straight transverse rows, each tongue being provided with downwardly-curved edges and each of the interspaces being likewise provided with downwardly curved edges which while admitting of a free rearward passage of waste material, such as straw and chafi', will be unable to retain even a single grain upon any part of its surface.

From the foregoing description the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. It is obvious that a screen constructed in accordance with my invention may be used either as a chalfer or as a tailings-screen or in any other position in a threshmg-machlne where its presence shall be deemed desirable. The construction is such that it cannot possibly cause clogging or choking of the machine at any point, no matter how rapidly material may be fed thereto, and it is also evident that loss of grain is practically avoided.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A sheet-metal screen formed with perforations and struck-up tongues arranged transversely in parallel rows, and longitudinally in slightly-zigzag rows, leaving clearance from end to end; the tongues and the metal interspaces being formed with downturned edges to deflect and direct the grains through the perforations.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EARNEST A. JONES.

'VVitnesses:

HENRY M, GooDHUE, F. BRYERSDORFF. 

